U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council Leads Delegation of Virginia Companies to Saudi Arabia

For Immediate Release: November 16, 2015

U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council Leads Delegation of Virginia Companies to Saudi Arabia

VIENNA – November 16, 2015 – The U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council (USSABC), in collaboration the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), is leading a delegation of 6 companies on a business development mission to Saudi Arabia. This will be the 12th mission organized by the USSABC with the VEDP to bring Virginia companies to Saudi Arabia to explore the market.

The companies in the delegation represent a variety of industry sectors including security, cyber security, oil and gas, health and safety services, and environmental services.. The delegates will meet individually with potential Saudi partners through meetings that have been pre-arranged by the USSABC in cooperation with the Asharqia and Riyadh Chambers of Commerce and Industry. They are also available for other meetings upon request.

Leading the mission on behalf of the VEDP, John Elink-Schuurman emphasized that “Saudi Arabia remains a key market for Virginia exports and investment, and one that will continue to be a priority as the state works to support companies to develop and diversify their international sales.”

Edward Burton, President and CEO of the USSABC, said, “The Business Council is pleased to coordinate with the VEDP on an 12th trip to the Kingdom for Virginia companies. Since signing our agreement with VEDP in 2007, we’ve built a long-standing relationship with Virginia companies and helped them expand business throughout Saudi Arabia. During that same time period, Virginia’s exports to the Kingdom have grown significantly. The USSABC is proud to be a part of Virginia’s growing success.”

Saudi Arabia is the largest economy in the Gulf, accounting for 25 percent of the region’s GDP. Driven by an ambitious national development plan that is dedicating hundreds of billions of dollars to projects from infrastructure to information technology, the Kingdom has demonstrated a rising demand for U.S. products, technologies and services across all industry sectors. In 2014, Virginia exported more than $416 million (SR1.56 billion) worth of merchandise to Saudi Arabia.

About the USSABC

The U.S. Saudi Arabian Business Council (USSABC) was established in December 1993 to improve the mutual knowledge and understanding between the private sectors of the U.S and Saudi Arabia and to promote and facilitate increased trade and investment between the two countries. The USSABC has built a membership base of approximately 350 leading companies in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia and serves as the central source of information and assistance for companies that want to pursue specific business activities in Saudi Arabia. The USSABC organizes conferences and seminars in both countries to promote dialogue between the two private sectors, as well as trade and investment missions that provide networking opportunities for U.S. and Saudi companies. For more information on the Business Council, please visit www.us-sabc.org.

About the Virginia Economic Development Partnership

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1995 to foster trade opportunities, encourage business, and expand the state’s economy. The VEDP’s activities focus on business attraction, business expansion, and international trade. VEDP managers provide business owners with market, economic and demographic information, coordinate site visits, establish meetings with local partners, offer strategic guidance, and identify potential new markets. The international trade team provides export development programs, publications, resources, and market research alongside developing market entry strategies and participating in trade development missions. For more information on the VEDP, please visit www.yesvirginia.org.